Colors of Mourning | The Definitive Funeral Planning and Information Resource Home | Editorial | Colors of Mourning Colors of Mourning by T-Knox White is also the color of mourning in Ethiopia. This funeral took place in Yeha, a town in northern Ethiopia. As there are many beliefs when it comes to mourning, the colors of mourning are just as vibrant. Black: At Japanese and Buddhist services many will attend in black attire. Bright colors, like reds are inappropriate for any mourning occasion. However, you may wear a string of white pearls. Throughout Europe wearing black is tradition. This custom is derived from the Roman Empire. Although the color black is recognized throughout the west as a color of mourning, around the world black is associated with evil and mystery. Perhaps it is our subconscious inclination that death is evil, and the tradition of wearing black to funerals resonates today. On the contrary people are less persistent when it comes to wearing black at a funeral. Funeral traditions are not as bound and there is freedom when it comes to remembrance. For some people black is seen as too somber for the event, and they want to liven the mood of the service by wearing brighter colors.

Widows may wear black for the rest of their lives. Predominantly in Russia, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Portugal and Spain this is practised. For some time after the death family will wear black, for as long as two years. This followed by people who have immigrated to the United Staes as well. White: China holds a spectrum of colors when it comes to mourning. At the burial, people who attend the funeral may be given a white towel to wipe away any perspiration. The white is a sign of thanks. Following the funeral everyone who attended must burn the clothes they wore to the service. This precaution is taken to prevent bad luck connected with the death. During the period of mourning family of the deceased wears a piece of cloth on their arm for 100 days. A color of the cloth tells the relationship to the deceased. The children of the deceased will wear a black cloth, blue by the grandchildren, and green by the great grandchildren. Families that hold tight to tradition may wear the cloth for nearly three years following the death in the family. Seven days after the death, the departed’s spirit is believed to return home.

So the spirit does not get lost the family will place a red plaque outside of their home. At the wake, no one may wear anything red, as red is a color of happiness. Besides black clothing, in medieval Europe royalty would also wear white. Moreover at a Hindu funeral everyone wears white clothing. However, in India brown is also a color of mourning. White is a color of mourning as it is also the color of purity. Many will wear white throughout the mourning period. Widows in India are permitted to only wearing white for the rest of their lives. White is also the signature color scheme at any funeral. Despite how Western society interprets white, most of the Eastern world shares the same meaning of white. In Korea and the Middle East it is the norm that white symbolizes time of mourning and funerals. It is an interesting predicament that theorists find white relays the message of clarity. It could be thought that once someone has passed away there may be clarity in the peoples’ lives, or lack there of. Black remains identified with death and mourning. Yellow: Black and white are not the only colors associated with mourning. In Egypt yellow is the color of mourning. Egyptians saw the sun and gold were yellow in color and had lasting qualities.

Masks of mummies and tombs were often painted gold. This was good sentiment to send the deceased into the afterlife. Mexico and Ethiopia’s color of mourning is yellow as well. Blue: Whereas in Korea blue is their color of mourning, countering Western culture’s meaning of depression and sadness. Purple: In Thailand widows will wear purple when mourning the death of their spouse. Purple was carried out as a mourning colour in Brazil as well, alongside black dress. It is considered bad taste when one wears purple when not attending a funeral or related service. Similarly for many Catholics purple shares the same meaning. Grey: Women in Papua New Guinea are covered in a light clay from head to toe when mourning the loss of her husband. Derived from this practise it has been said that the country’s mourning color is grey, the color of the clay. Read more: Symbolism of colors - Chinese Customs Symbolism of colors ___ Symbolism of Colors, Asscociations of The Five Elements in Chinese Beliefs and Feng Shui Color’s Symbolism - Five basic colors - Five Elements. Before the Five Elements Theory was used and according to Taoists’ believe , there were only two colors: opposing, yet complementary principles, black and white, yin- yang .

With the establishment of the Five Elements Theory, the spectrum of colors was enlarged, leading to the use of not only black and white, but red, green and yellow, a total of five ‘main’ colors. It should be noted that the color black is often considered ‘black- blue’ or ‘blue- black’, hence the specifics of the two colors can be found combined. The same applies for the color green, as it is often considered ‘green- blue’ or ‘blue- green’. In Chinese believes, the cosmos mirrors the Five Elements, therefore each color represents or is associated with a symbolic meaning. The Five Element Chart shows associated properties or aspects of each element. Together, these aspects form the integrated whole of the Five Element Theory. Feng Shui incorporated the Five Elements while being based on the bagua . Hence, the bagua represents not only all elements, but the cosmos. Historically, people actually worshipped the color yellow during the reign of the legendary Chinese sage king, a chief deity of Taoism, Huang Di or Huang Ti, better known as the Yellow Emperor.

He is the emperor that is said to be the ancestor of all Han Chinese people and is believed to have reigned around 2697 BC to 2598 BC. Huang Di was coined the name Yellow Emperor because his army tribe honoured the value of the ‘Yellow Earth’ which was the symbol of farming and the ‘Yellow River’ of the central land (China). During Huang Di’ s reign, his tribe was able to practice traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and acupressure, make bronze coins and his wife Lu Zu discovered silk and helped to create silk weaving for clothing. The emperor himself is said to have helped Fuxi to create the Chinese Calendar . At the end of his Huang Di’s life, a yellow dragon is said to have appeared, carrying the Yellow Emperor off to the heavens by invitation of the gods. According to the Five Elements Theory, the color yellow belongs to the element earth, represented through the direction center or zenith, a stabilizing energy, a balanced ying- yang. The associated grain is rice (which ripens in the yellow earth and as food stabilizes mankind).

The Chinese poems ‘Songs of Chu’ describe the Five Emperors to which the Yellow Emperor belongs, as directional God, granting the Yellow Emperor the direction ‘center’. The color yellow characterizes the center of a bagua chart. Regarding colors with the understanding of the Five Element theory allows to understand the five ‘main’ colors as a process, showing the Chinese Taoistic thought of the Five Elements as a further and more refined step to understand and categorize or analyze the Yin-Yang philosophy, as the Theory of the Five Elements describes the interaction and relation between Yin and Yang, between phenomena. Below a brief list of associations. Note that colors are ‘in motion’ as well. A color can consist of a “main, dominating” color and a shade of another color. Such a mixture of a colors can lead to a combined interpretation. BLACK - color for young boys (who will continue the family/ancestor lineages), delving into the depth of something, flowing, dormant, conserving, immortality, stability, knowledge, trust, adaptability, spontaneity, power, career, will, emotional protection, calmness vs.

lack of will Five Elements: Water; Direction: North; Season: winter; Condition: cold; Energy: conserving; Phase: full Yin; Development: dormant; Planet: Mercury; Animal : shelled, especially tortoise; Celestial creature: (Black) Tortoise; Fruit: chestnut; Grain: millet; Action: listening; Sense: hearing; Sound: moaning; Smell: rotten; Taste: salty; Trigram bagua: K’an Colors in Traditional Chinese Culture - China culture Colors in Traditional Chinese Culture Understanding People's Gestures in China Chinese don’t gesture very much and regard a lot of hand movement as excessive. Winking and... For more than 2000 years, the Chinese people have used brilliant colors. Today in modern China, red is a very popular color. However, contrary to popular belief, ancient peoples did not pay special attention to the color red. Traditional Chinese physics taught that the five elements are water, fire, wood, metal and earth, in that order. They correspond to black, red, blue-green, white and yellow, respectively. Ancient Chinese people believed that the five elements made everything in nature.

Five thousand years ago during the reign of Huang Di (known as the Yellow Emperor) people actually worshiped the color yellow. From that period forward, through the Shang, Tang, Zhou and Qin dynasties, China's emperors used the Theory of the Five Elements to select colors. Because people understood that "colors come naturally while black and white are first," they gradually established a relationship between colors and the principle of the five elements, which guided the natural movement of heaven and the heavenly Tao. People chose clothing, food, transportation and housing according to natural changes in the seasons--from spring to summer and autumn, and then to winter. Traditional Chinese views regard black, red, and blue-green, white and yellow as standard colors The I-Ching, or Book of Changes, regards black as Heaven's color. The saying "heaven and earth of mysterious black" was rooted in the observation that the northern sky was black for a long time. White represented gold and symbolized brightness, purity, and fulfillment. White also is the color of mourning. The Chinese people, both ancient and modern, cherish the color red. Red is everywhere during Chinese New Year and other holidays and family gatherings for it symbolizes good fortune and joy.

Unfortunately, since the Communist takeover of China, red has been used by the Chinese Communist Party to represent danger, blood, violence and radical actions. Blue-green indicates spring when everything overflows with vigor and vitality. Yellow symbolizes the earth. The old saying, "Yellow generates Yin and Yang," meant that yellow is the center of everything. Color embodies an even richer culture in Chinese folk traditions. Yellow is the color for emperors. Yellow often decorates royal palaces, altars and temples. Yellow also represents being free from worldly cares. Therefore it is also a color respected in Buddhism. Chinese culture created a close and binding relationship between color and ceramics, murals, paintings, and poetry...even city planning. Many of the silk goods unearthed from ancient tombs have maintained their original colors of brown, red, black, purple, and yellow. Chinese pottery and lacquer ware uses rich color even more extensively. The formulation of richly colored glazes infuses these pieces with a brilliant and lustrous appearance. For ancient Chinese people, color feeds the spirit and expresses the depth of human experience. search Color and cultural design considerations | Webdesigner Depot Color and cultural design considerations By Carrie Cousins • Posted Jun.

11, 2012 • Reading time: 8 minutes The world seems to be getting a little smaller each day thanks to online communities and social networking. In turn, this “world-wide community” has created an international readership for a variety of websites. Designers must weigh carefully the messages they send to that potentially broad user-base. One aspect of design that can have far reaching and sometimes unintentional effects on readers is color. Colors have a variety of associations within North American culture alone, and can mean something radically different to Japanese or Middle Eastern readers, where color meanings are frequently much more specific and defined. It is important to understand how color associations vary from culture to culture, and within different possible audiences, when planning a website. Understanding color can be a tricky challenge and many color meanings can almost seem contradictory — particularly in the West, where color meanings are extremely broad. When working with color, remember to think about context and how color is used with other elements such as text and photos. Here we’ll look at a rainbow of basic hues and what meanings people of different cultures may infer from them. Red Western cultures (North America and Europe) Red is the color of passion and excitement.

It has both positive and negative associations — danger, love and excitement and when used with connection with the former Eastern block, it represents communism. Red is also associated with power and has some religious undertones when used with green to represent Christmas. The multiple, and varying, Western associations with the color are a combination of different meanings from other cultures. Eastern and Asian cultures Red is the color of happiness, joy and celebration. It is often the color worn by brides on their wedding day because it is thought to bring luck, long life and happiness. It is also a color often associated with Chinese restaurants in the United States, because of the associations with luck and happiness. Specifically in India, the color relates to purity and in Japan it is associated with life, but also anger or danger. Latin America In Mexico and some other Latin American nations, red is the color of religion when used with white. Middle East Red evokes feelings of danger and caution. Some also consider it the color of evil. Around the world Red is worn to celebrate the Chinese New Year to bring luck, good fortune and prosperity. Orange Western cultures (North American and Europe) Orange is the color of harvest and autumn.

In the United States, for example, the color signifies the fall season beginning in September with the start of school though to Halloween and Thanksgiving in late November. It is also associated with warmth and citrus fruits. In The Netherlands, where it is considered the national color, the most common use of orange is to signify royalty. Eastern and Asian cultures The hue, especially saffron (a yellowish orange that matches the color of the plant) is sacred in Indian cultures. In Japan, orange tones are symbolic of courage and love. Latin America Orange is considered sunny; it is also associated with the earth in some countries because of the reddish-orange ground color. Middle East Orange is associated with mourning and loss. Around the world The color can also have religious associations: It is the color of gluttony in Christianity. Yellow Western cultures (North America and Europe) The bright cheery nature of yellow is the predominant meaning in most Western nations. It is associated with warmth (the sun), summer and hospitality. In the United States, specifically, the color is associated with transportation — taxis and school buses are yellow as are many different types of street signage.

Tea maker Lipton, for example, uses yellow to market worldwide but there are changes in what colors people are wearing in advertising material if you toggle between sites aimed at different countries. In Germany, yellow is associated with envy (which is described as green in most other Western cultures). Eastern and Asian cultures Members of the royal ruling class often wear this hue and the color is considered sacred and imperial. In Japan, that definition is expanded to include courage (which is expected of rulers) and is the color of commerce in India. Latin America On the contrary, yellow is associated with death and mourning in many Latin cultures. Middle East Though in Egypt, yellow is most closely associated with mourning (in much the same way as Latin American nations), it is more widely connected to happiness and prosperity in the Middle East. The associations with yellow are closely related to those of Western cultures. Around the world In many African nations, only people with high rank in society can wear yellow. The more gold variations of the color are universally associated with money, quality and success in most world cultures. Blue Western cultures (North America and Europe) The most popular color for bank logos is blue because it represents trust and authority. The color is also masculine and used to represent the birth of a boy.

Blue is also considered to be calming, soothing and peaceful although it can also be associated with depression or sadness. Eastern and Asian cultures The hue is ever-lasting in its association with immortality. In Indian culture blue is the color of Krishna — a central figure in Hinduism and one of the most popular Hindu gods. Many Indian sports teams use the color as a symbol of strength. Unlike in the U.S., where blue is associated with men, it is considered a feminine color in China. Latin America Because of the high Catholic population of Central and South America, blue is often associated with religion as the color of the Virgin Mary’s robe or headscarf. Moreover, blue can cause an emotional stir because of its association with mourning. It is also the color of trust and serenity in Mexico, and is the color of soap in Colombia. Middle East Blue is safe and protecting. It is the color associated with Heaven, spirituality and immortality. Around the world In Thailand, blue is the color associated with Friday. Blue is often considered the most positive and safest color for a global audience. Skype, the international web-based telephone company, uses a blue color scheme for each of its sites around the world.

Green Western cultures (North America and Europe) Green is the color of the Irish (think St. Patrick’s Day and it is also the national color of Ireland) and represents luck throughout most of the West. Green also refers to nature, the environment and protection of environmental causes, such as “green business” or “green household cleansers.” Green is also associated with Christmas, when used in combination with red. It is also the symbol of progress — green means “go” — but can also represent of envy. Eastern and Asian cultures Green is the color of nature and new life in much of the East. It also represents fertility and youth. However, it can have equally negative connotations: green is the color of exorcism and infidelity; in China, wearing a green hat is associated with cheating on your spouse. Latin America In many Latin and South American cultures, green is the color of death. Middle East For the majority of the Middle East the strongest association with green is that of Islam. It represents strength, fertility, luck and wealth. Around the world In the United States, green is the color of money and is often associated with jealousy. Green, superficially olive green, is the color of almost every active military in the world.

Purple Western cultures (North America and Europe) Purple is the color of royalty and is often used for the cloaks and robes of kings and queens in modern movies. It is associated with wealth and fame. It is also symbolic of modernism and progression. Specifically in the United States, it is a color of honor; the military’s highest award is considered to be the Purple Heart. Eastern and Asian cultures Purple is also a color of wealth and nobility in the East. The exception is in Thailand, where purple represents mourning, where a widow wears the color after the death of her husband. Latin America The theme of sorrow is also evident in South American nations such as Brazil, where purple is associated with mourning and death. Middle East Wealth and purple are synonymous. In Egypt, the definition of purple also extends to include virtue. Around the world A lighter shade, amethyst, is considered sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often made from this purple stone in Tibet. Pink Western cultures (North American and Europe) Pink is the color of femininity and is used to signify the birth of a daughter. It also represents sweetness (it is often the color used for cake or candy shops), childhood or fun.

Eastern and Asian cultures Pink is also considered feminine in the East where it also signifies marriage. In Korea, however, the color is more closely associated with trust. For many years, the Chinese did not recognize the color; it was finally brought into the culture due to increasing Western influence. Latin America Pink has much looser associations and is often used as a color for buildings, consequently it can have associations with architecture. Middle East Pink does not have any distinct meaning in Middle Eastern cultures. Around the world Prison holding cells around the world have been painted pink to help reduce behavioral problems because the color can be mentally stimulating whilst simultaneously being somewhat calming. Brown Western cultures (North America and Europe) Brown is earthy but can be associated with either health or barrenness. In the United States, it is the color most often used for packaging (think of the highly successful transport company UPS) and food containers. Brown is stable, dependable and wholesome, as association which comes from the color of grains. Eastern and Asian cultures The most common color association is that of mourning. In Chinese horoscopes, brown is used to represent earth. Latin America Contrary to the uses of brown in North America, the color has the opposite effect in South America.

Brown actually discourages sales in Colombia and is considered disapproving in Nicaragua. Middle East Brown is harmonious with earth and comfort. Around the world The meanings associated with brown may be among the most universal in the rainbow; it is frequently called a non-color because of its neutral tendencies and general appeal in design. Note how brown is used on the Washtennaw Community College website – the neutral color is inviting to potential students of almost any origin. Black Western cultures (North America and Europe) Black is the color of finality, death, formality and mourning in North American and European cultures. It is also considered powerful and strong and can imply control or force. (Consider the strong look associated with using reverse type.) Eastern and Asian cultures Black can be connected to masculinity and is the color for boys in China. It also represents wealth, heath and prosperity. In Thailand and Tibet though, black is most closely associated with evil. Latin America Latin cultures also associate the color (or strictly speaking, tone) with masculinity and is the preferred color for men’s clothing. It is also linked to mourning. Middle East Black has somewhat contrasting but symbiotic meanings – it represents both rebirth and mourning. Evil and mystery are also associated with black.

Around the world Black is associated with magic and the unknown in almost all cultures. White Western cultures (North America and Europe) White is the color of purity and peace. It is often associated with weddings and is the color most often worn by brides. White is also clean and sterile and used to represent hospitals and even holiness. In Italy however, white is used for funerals and traditionally, white Chrysanthemums are placed at grave sites. Eastern and Asian cultures White is also the color of death in the East. It is used at funerals and represents sterility, mourning, unhappiness and misfortune. Latin America White has many of the same associations as in North America and is connected to purity and peace. Middle East Both purity and mourning are associated with white. In Iran for example, that definition expands to include holiness and peace and in Egypt wearing white is a symbol of a person’s high ranking status. Around the world The white flag is the universal symbol of truce. By Carrie Cousins Carrie Cousins is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience in the communications industry, including writing for print and online publications, and design and editing. You can connect with Carrie on Twitter @carriecousins .

More articles by Carrie Cousins Popular posts Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture Visual Color Symbolism Chart by Culture What Different Colors Mean in Different Cultures By Jeremy Girard Updated July 12, 2016. Color is an important part of any design , but if you make a bad choice of colors your design can say something different than you intend it to. How colors are perceived depends a lot on the culture a person was born into. With the chart below, you can get a better sense of how the colors you choose affect your customers in various cultures. This chart lists colors and meanings that various different cultures associate with those colors. Note that in some cases, the color is also associated with another “thing”. For example, a “white dove” in western cultures symbolizes peace. Also, sometimes it’s the color in combination with another color that creates the association, such as red and green symbolizing Christmas in the West. This information is noted below. China: Good luck, celebration, summoning Cherokees: Success, triumph. Represents the East.

Hebrew: Sacrifice, sin South Africa: Color of mourning Russia: Bolsheviks and Communism Eastern: Worn by brides, happiness and prosperity Western: Excitement, danger, love, passion, stop, Christmas (with green), Valentine’s Day Astrology: Gemini Feng Shui: Yang, fire, good luck, money, respect, recognition, vitality Psychology: Stimulates brain wave activity, increases heart rate, increases blood pressure Roses: Love, respect — red and yellow together means gaiety, joviality Stained Glass (Dante): Divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom. A warm, active color. The Meaning of Colour in Web Design The Meaning of Colours For most of us, a rainbow of colours envelopes our lives. Over 80% of visual information is related to colour.¹ What colours and combinations of colours stimulate people to be interested in different things? What colours make us feel pleasure or disapproval, hot or cold, to be attracted or repelled, our appetite stimulated or suppressed? Many reactions to colour are instinctual, universal and cross cultural boundaries. "Colors also convey messages that go beyond ethnic, racial, or gender boundaries.

According to a 1997 survey by Cooper Marketing Group, Oak Park, IL, power is represented by the color scarlet red for 25% of respondents, black for 17% and bright violet blue for 13%. More than 55% of those surveyed chose one of these three colors out of 100 colors. Fragility was most represented by pale pink (27%), white (9%), and pale lavender (9%)."² Other associations with colours are specific to a culture or regions. Mixing appropriate amounts of different colours however can neutralise inherent negative cultural connotations. Web design which achieves successful marketing results is sensitive to the cultural, instinctual and iconic meanings of colour in relation to the product being promoted and considers the cultural backgrounds and gender of the targeted clientele. Avoiding the extremes of sheer garishness and boredom, effective design displays symphonic colour arrangements of shades, tints, tones and complementarities to tantalise and maintain interest. Adding textures too can alter colours - a roughly textured surface makes a colour seem darker, while a smooth surface lightens the same colour. Colour trends may defy instinctual, cultural and iconic constraints - for example, the recent craze for vivid lime green.

As Jill Morton says: "Psychologically, the 'anti-aesthetic' colors may well capture more attention than those on the aesthetically-correct list. History clearly demonstrates that this has been a prevalent trend in art since the turn of the 20th century, when Dada's urinals and snow shovels put an end to the era of Matisse and French Impressionism."³ Red European : Danger (stop signs), love (hearts), excitement (for sale signs) China : Traditional bridal colour, good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life, summoning, the direction South. Chinese saying goes "when something is so red, it is purple" - red purple brings luck and fame.

Japan : life Hinduism : Saffron (peachy orange) is a sacred color Feng Shui : Yang, Earth, strengthens concentration, purpose, organization Orange : warmth, energy, balance, enthusiasm, vibrancy, vitality, expansiveness, flamboyance, excitement, business goals, property deals, ambition, career, goals, general success, justice, legal matters, selling, action, attention-grabbing, the sun, friendly, inviting, intense, joy, strength, endurance, steadfastness, tropics, quick movement, wealth of the mind and knowledge, charity, growing things, fascination, friendliness, happiness, beginnings, heat, creativity, autumn, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, courage, earth, mental and appetite stimulatant, emotional lift, assurance, social force, health, warmth, attractiveness, cheerfulness, mood-lightening, uninhibited, independence, amiability, constructiveness, self-assuredness, cheap, low-budget, fun kids colour, youth In restaurants, as orange is an appetite stimulant, orange decor encourages sales. Less passionate than red, orange still increases oxygen supply to the brain, stimulating mental activity. Popular amongst youth. Orange backgrounds help images seem closer and larger, but avoid over-use.

Useful for highlighting important elements, promoting food products and toys. "As we turned our sights to orange, substantial research (including the data gathered at The Global Color Survey at and the Pantone Consumer Color Preference Study® dated June 1996) documented that orange is one of Americans' least favorite colors. ...

In 1991, Forbes called attention to orange's mundane associations in its December 23 article, 'Does orange mean cheap?' Yes, it does."4 Dark orange : autumn, deceit, distrust Red orange : desire, sexuality, pleasure, domination, aggression, thirst for action Bright orange : tangy citrus, health Pale orange : apricot, coral, peach and melon are sophisticated Buddhism : wisdom Feng Shui : Yang, Earth, auspicious, sunbeams, warmth, motion Yellow : sun, intelligence, light, accelerated learning, memory, logical imagination, social energy, cooperation, organisation, breaking mental blocks, sunshine, joy, happiness, intellect, energy, cheerfulness, optimism, purity, enthusiasm, warmth, honour, loyalty, mental force, clarity, perception, understanding, wisdom, dishonesty, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, disease, weakness, caution, cowardice, follower, curiosity, mellowness, confidence, humour, dreams, creativity, desire to improve, action, idealism, optimism, imagination, hope, summer, philosophy, uncertainty, restlessness, glory, enlightenment Yellow stimulates mental activity, generates muscle energy and attracts attention - it is the colour most visible to the human eye.

Thus yellow objects move to the forefront. Students who study in yellow rooms do better in exams. Cheerful yellow can be used to promote food especially in combination with other fruit and vegetable tones, children's and leisure products and is best used as a highlight. With overuse, yellow can be disturbing and promote anxiety. Babies cry more in yellow rooms. Yellow against black denotes a warning ... the sting of the bee. Yellow is not a practical colour to use when selling expensive items to men ... they perceive it as an untrustworthy and childish ... and avoid yellow if you wish to evoke safety and stability. Care is needed with shades of yellow as they can lose their warmth and appear dirty.

Dull yellow : caution, decay, sickness, jealousym aging Light yellow : intellect, freshness, and joy Ivory/cream : quiet, pleasantness, calm, understated elegance, purity, softness, more rich and warm than white Worldwide : 'safe' colour Feng Shui : Yin, Water, calm, love, healing, relaxation, peace, trust, adventure, exploration Blue : good fortune, communication, wisdom, protection, spiritual inspiration, calmness, reassurance, gentleness, fluidity, water, sea, creativity, peace, calming, higher thoughts, mystery, sky, formality, travel, devotion, progress, quiet wisdom, freedom.

betterment of humanity, love, trust, loyalty, intelligence, reassurance, artistry, compassion, inner strength, devotion, depression, sadness, tranquility, stability, unity, truth, understanding, confidence, acceptance, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, comfort, cold, technology, devotion, harmony, depth, faith, heaven, piety, sincerity, precision, intellect, sadness, consciousness, speech, messages, ideas, sharing, cooperation, idealism, sincerity, empathy, relaxation, affection, inspiration, friendship, patience, contemplation, infinity, harmony, non-threatening, dependability Some believe blue slows the metabolism and suppresses the appetite. As it does not require the eye to focus, images and objects recede in blue backgrounds. With overuse, can create feelings of cold. Although also popular with women, blue is the predominant favourite colour of males and is suited to web sites involving and promoting technology, medical products, cleanliness, air, sky, water, sea and automotives. Blue is the favourite colour of more than half of the world's people - it is the colour least disliked by most cultures. High impact designs can be created with combinations of blue, red and yellow.

Combinations of light and dark blues can create feelings of trust. Pale Blue : ethereal, delicate, calming, health, healing, tranquility, understanding, softness In combination with pinks and pale yellows, creates the image of spring. Aqua : freshness, pristine, vigour, movement, dramatic, confidence, strength, individualism, eccentricity, humour, fearlessness, festivity Royal Blue : richness, superiority, cold Dark blue : depth, expertise, stability, credibility (especially with gold), intellect, wisdom, corporate colour, warmth, knowledge, power, integrity, seriousness, knowledge, health, decisiveness, law, order, logic, dependability, serenity Combining dark and lighter shades of blue creates a conservative and sophisticated look.

Eastern : Funerals Feng Shui : Yang, Metal, death, mourning, ancestal spirits, ghosts, poise, confidence White : spirituality, goddess, peace, higher self, purity, virginity, reverence, simplicity, cleanliness, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, cold, clinical, sterility, clarity, perfection, innocence, virginity, goodness, light, fairness, safety, positivity, faith, coolness, charity, successful innovations, union, self-sacrifice, holiness, feminine divinity, pristine, chastity, positivity All white rooms can be uncomfortable with a stark atmosphere. White is useful for a background or accent colour as it highlights other colours. White is perceived by the eye as a brilliant colour. White can indicate simplicity with high-tech products and safety and cleanliness with medical products. Silver Feng Shui : Yin, Metal, trustworthiness, romance .

Silver : glamous, distinguishment, high tech, industrial, graceful aging, telepathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, psychometry, intuition, dreams, astral energies, female power, communication, goddess, ornate riches, sleekness, modernity To create a high-tech look, use silver with other colours. Silver works well combined with gold and white to promote a feeling of control and power. Silver and other reflectors are strong eye attractors and are associated with life-giving water.

Grey Feng Shui : Yin, Metal, dead, dull, indefinite Grey : security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring, practicality, professional, sophisticated, durability, quality, quiet, conservativeness, gloominess, sadness European : Funerals, death, mourning, rebellion, cool, restfulness China : Colour for young boys Thailand : Bad luck, unhappiness, evil Judaism : Unhappiness, bad luck, evil Australian Aboriginals : colour of the people, ceremonial ochre Feng Shui : Yin, Water, money, income, career success, emotional protection, power, stability, bruises, evil Black : protection, repelling negativity, binding, shapeshifting, power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, classy, wealth, power, mystery, fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, modern music, space, high quality, bad luck, formality, reservedness, dignity, elegance, secretiveness, fear of the unknown, night, emptiness, dirtiness, sophistication, strength of character, dramatic, authority, prestige, grief, anger, reliability, strong

, classic, strength, anti-establishment, modernism, serious .

Black is an excellent technical colour and it assist targetting a sophisticated high-end market or a youth market to add mystery. Over a large area, black can be depressing. Though black backgrounds can enhance perspective and depth, they diminish readibility of text. Useful for web sites for art and photography to help other colours to vibrate. To share your thoughts with the author of this article about the meaning of colours, please feel free to register and post on the Sibagraphics blog . Sylvia Posadas, Sibagraphics © 2004, 2006, 2009. Bibliography ² Kathy Lamancusa, 2003, ³ Jill Morton, 2000, 4 Ibid. 5 Jacci Howard Bear, Useful Color Links Chinese Porcelain Glossary: Colors and their symbolic values in Chinese culture Search Gotheborg.com site for: Colors and their symbolic values in Chinese culture While the color of red in modern days is very popular color in modern China red was not recognized as any special color before the time of the Ming Dynasty. In today's Chinese the word yanse means color while in ancient China the word yanse meant "facial color".

A litterally translation would rather translate yanse as "energy (qi) between one's eyebrows (yan) referring to moods as shame, regret, joy and worries. Not before the Tang Dynasty did yanse start to carry the meaning of colors in general. Many modern Chinese characters that are used to describe different shades of color carry the "silk" radical. According to the book Shuo Wen Jie Zi (Explaining Characters and Expressions), there are 24 characters used to describe colors of silk fabrics, including red, green, purple, deep red (crimson), bright red, dark red (dark purple), light blue, orange red, white, and so on. All the brilliant shades of colors show how vibrant the silk manufacturing industry was in ancient China. From the oldest time; during Huangdi (myth.: The Yellow Emperor) through the Shang, Tang, Zhou and Qin dynasties the emperors selected symbolic colors based on the theory of the five elements. According to Daoistic principles the order of the five elements and their corresponding colors and meanings are: water (black). The color black was regarded as the color of heaven in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes).

The saying "heaven and earth of mysterious black" was rooted in the feeling of ancient people that the northern sky shows a mysterious black color for a long time. They thought that the North Star is where the Tian Di (heavenly emperor) is. Therefore, black was regarded as the king of all colors in ancient China. It is also the single color that was worshipped the longest time in ancient China. In the Taiji diagram of ancient China, black and white are used to represent the unity of Yin and Yang. Winter was represented by black, guarded by a black tortoise, and its direction was north. fire (red). The color red symbolizes good fortune and joy to the Chinese people. Summer was represented by reddish brightness, guarded by a red sparrow, and its direction was south. wood (greenish blue). The color green-blue symbolizes the spring when everything is brimming over with vigor and vitality. Spring was represented by greenish blue sun, its main guardian god was a green-blue dragon, and its direction was east. metal (white). In the ancient Chinese concepts of color, the color white represents multiple things.

In the theory of "Five Elements", white corresponds to gold, which shows that the ancient Chinese people felt that the color white symbolizes brightness and classifies it as a standard color, representing the nature of purity, brightness and fullness. Autumn was represented by white, guarded by a white tiger, and its direction was west. earth (yellow). The color yellow is the color of the center, symbolizing the color of the earth. In China, there is a saying, "Yellow generates Yin and Yang," regarding yellow as the center of all colors. Yellow is the orthodox color positioned in the center and is the color of neutrality. It is placed above the color brown and regarded as the most beautiful color of all. The color yellow was the symbolic color of the five legendary emperors of ancient China. In China, yellow had a special symbolic meaning and was the center of the five colors, symbolizing the color of earth. Over the time people established the relationship between the colors and the principle of the five elements as a guide towards the natural movement of heaven and earth.

People selected their attire, food, transportation and housing according to the natural changes in the seasons, going from spring, to summer, to autumn, and then to winter, which further formed the theory of five colors. During that period of time, the symbolism of various colors was widely incorporated into the naming of seasons and directions. Each season was given a color and a direction. Dynastic colors of element During the pre-Qin period Confucius defined the symbolic values of the five colors and related them to benevolence, virtue and kindness and, incorporated them into the formal ceremonies of the Zhou Dynasty. In this school, red was worshipped. Lao Zi, on the other hand, said that "five colors make people blind," so in his school black was choosen as the symbol of the Dao. In 211 B. C., Qin Shi Huang unified China.

He still followed his ancestors' traditions by observing objects and deciding symbols, distinguished black from white, respected the virtue of water and "decided that October was the beginning of winter and its color was a superior black." When Qin Shi Huang ascended to the throne, "the color of the clothing and flags was black." Architectural colors After the Qin dynasty, color gradually assumed a decorative function. After the Han Dynasty, yellow became the special symbolic color of the royal court because of its brilliance, and its shade was close to the golden color. Ordinary people were not allowed to wear yellow clothes. Throughout all the following dynasties, clothing for officials of different ranks were also of different colors. During the Han Dynasty, bright purple was often regarded as an extremely precious and rare color. In the Tang dynasty, the color purple was used in the clothing of officials ranking above the "fifth class" and was a color favored by royal court members. Purple borders were considered elegant. After the Ming Dynasty, only those who were related to the Emperor could live in houses with red walls and yellow roof tiles. Ordinary people's houses could only be made of blue bricks with blue roof tiles. However, carved beams and columns could be were colorful.

Murals In the Dun Huang Caves, dating back 1500 years, there are more than ten thousand pieces of rare murals. The colors uses in the murals of different periods of time are different. For example, in the murals painted during the Northern Wei Dynasty, red and brown were the main colors, supplemented by blue and black. In the murals painted during the Tang Dynasty, yellow was added as a major color, and the application of the colors was also varied, bright and magnificent. In the murals painted during the Song Dynasty, blue and green were the dominant colors. The five colors of ink In Chinese paintings, the romantic charm of a picture is mainly expressed by the thickness of its ink. The practice is described as "ink holds five colors" and "shinning brilliantly without the usage of bright colors." The superb artistic realms are realized in the thickness and thinness of the ink. "Ink holds five colors" refers to five types of shades, charred, thick, ash, thin and clear.

The color of water In a painter's eye, the color of water is clearly different throughout the four seasons, as expressed in Guo Xi's book Lin Quan Gao Zhi (A Book about Paintings), "The color of water is green in spring, bluish green in summer, aqua in autumn, and black in winter." Different colors do get used in traditional Chinese paintings. Colors in paintings It was recorded in Selections of Famous Paintings of the Tang Dynasty that Li Si Xun's paintings of landscapes with strong green and blue colors were praised by Emperor Xuan Zong as "the best landscape paintings in the nation." This type of court painting is often outlined with colors extracted from various minerals such as Shi Qing (azurite), Shi Lu (mineral green), Shi Huang (mineral yellow), Zhu Sha (cinnabar), Yan Zhi (cochineal), Qian Fen (lead powder), and Ni Jin (golden paint). Their colors were bright and magnificent. The ancient Chinese people were good at extracting colors from large amount of minerals and plants. Because of that, the colors in Chinese paintings became more systematic and abundant in their brightness and richness.

Color in Chinese folk traditions In Chinese folk traditions, the culture of color is even richer. Yellow is the color for emperors. Royal palaces, royal altars and royal temples often use the yellow color. Yellow also represents being free from worldly cares. Therefore it is also a color respected in Buddhism. Monks' garments are yellow and temples are also yellow. Red is one of the colors beloved by the Chinese people. In the celebration of the New Year, holidays and gatherings, the red color is a must. Purple is the color of a propitious omen and solemnity. Among the Chinese people, there is the saying "purple sparrows in beams, carries mud in pairs, coming and going." White is the color of mourning. Ancient Chinese people wore white clothes and hats only when they mourned for the dead. That tradition is still practiced today. In modern times the color red has widely become recognized as associated with the Chinese Communist Party. Colours in different cultures By Felicia Bratu Some time ago, before the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, I heard a joke about colours: somebody informed USA officials that the Russians were thinking of painting the entire moon red to show their supremacy in space.

Everyone was expecting to see the Americans getting angry over this, but instead they were very calm about it. “Ok, no problem, let them paint the moon red.” To which they added “We’ll just write Coca-Cola on top of it and everybody will know who the best is…” Same colour, two different meanings: red is perceived as the colour of communism and Russia used to be a communist country, but red is also the colour of Coca-Cola, which is a very well-known symbol of the United States. Colours are important in communications. Feelings, ideas, and emotions can be expressed with colours. When designing websites or brochures for International markets, colours are crucial. Not paying attention to them could result in expensive and often embarrassing problems… And you would want to make sure your website or advertisement campaign will be well received in the countries you target. Just think of the impact you’d have by wearing all red to cheer for one of Detroit Red Wings’ rivals… You wouldn’t want to be there… You’d be detested by the entire audience. The same could happen with your website. Make sure your website has the right colour when entering into different markets. The wrong colour could transform the best designed website and best ad promotion into a nightmare.

In May of this year, a few large corporations with International websites had changed the colour of their Chinese home pages to black to pay respect to all Chinese people affected by the Sichuan earthquake. Although white is the colour of mourning in China, this was still a very touching gesture to pay respect to the more than 60,000 people who had died. In 1999, Crayola changed the “indian red” colour name to “chestnut” in response to educators who felt some children wrongly perceived the crayon colour was intended to represent the skin colour of Native Americans. The name originated from a reddish-brown pigment found near India commonly used in fine artist oil paint. During its 1994 launch campaign, one of the well-known European mobile phone companies – Orange – had to change its ads in Northern Ireland. “The future’s bright, the future’s Orange.” This was because in the North the term Orange suggests the Orange Order.

The implied message is that the future is bright, the future is Protestant, loyalist… Here are a few things about colours you might find useful: Red: Red is the colour of love in most cultures: Chinese brides wear red for their wedding, and red roses are the most common gift for St. Valentine’s Day. Red is also the colour of communism – the flags of China and Vietnam are red. The Former Soviet Union’s flag used to be red too. The army of the Soviet Union was known as the “Red Army”. In Christianity, green and red are associated with Christmas. There is an Easter tradition to colour eggs red – red in this case represents the blood of Christ. Satan is also most of the time represented by the colour red in icons and popular culture. On the other hand, Santa Claus wears red and white for Christmas. In China, red paper and red envelopes are frequently used to wrap gifts of money. Though, on the negative side, obituaries are traditionally written in red ink, and to write someone’s name in red signals that you are either cutting them out of your life, or that they have died. Red is also used to indicate emergency and warnings. Red is the colour for all Stop signs around the World.

However, the first Stop sign had black letters on a white background until 1924 when white was replaced with yellow. It wasn’t until 954 that all stop signs became white and red. Green: In North America, because of the colour of the United States dollar bill, green is the colour of wealth and money. Also, the colour green is always associated with nature. In my native country, Romania, people with green eyes are seen as very deceptive people. In some of Shakespeare’s plays, envy is associated with the colour green. Green is considered the traditional colour of Islam. It is also the national colour of Egypt. But don’t create packaging or mail packages in green: It’s not well-received. In some Asian cultures the colour green is often used as a symbol of sickness. Green is a symbol of Ireland; green is a strong trend in the Irish holiday St. Patrick’s Day. White: While Westerns see white as the colour of purity and innocence, in some Asian cultures ( China, Vietnam, and Korea), white is the colour of death and mourning. In India, people wear white after the death of a family member. White is the traditional colour of bridal dresses in Western cultures.

A woman wearing white will be seen as a bride on a Western website, and as a person in mourning on an Eastern website. White is also the colour of snow and winter. Some associate snow with Christmas, forgetting that countries from the Southern hemisphere don’t have snow during Christmas time. A white pigeon is an international sign of peace; a white flag is an international sign of surrender. Blue: China: immortality; workers’ uniforms; blue-coloured gifts are associated with death Hinduism: the colour of Krishna Egypt: dark blue is a colour of mourning. Black: Black is the colour of mourning in Western cultures; Black is also the most common colour used for clothing for formal occasions; black is also worn by priests. In the Japanese culture, until the nineteenth century, some women used to dye their teeth black because it was thought that black teeth would make a woman look beautiful. Orange: The colours orange and black are the colours of Halloween because orange is the colour of pumpkins and black is the colour of night and darkness. Orange is the national colour of the Netherlands, referring to the royal family, the House of Orange-Nassau. Orange is the brand used by France Telecom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries.

Chinese Funeral Traditions and Preparation By Lauren Mack Updated September 30, 2016. See how people’s lives are remembered and celebrated at Chinese funerals. Chinese funeral traditions vary depending on where the deceased person and his or her family are from but some basic traditions still apply. How Do Family and Friends Prepare for a Chinese Funeral? The job of coordinating and preparing the Chinese funerals of elders falls on children or younger family members. It is part of the Confucian principle of filial piety, devotion to one’s parents. Family members must consult the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date to hold the Chinese funeral ceremony. Funeral homes and local temples help the family prepare the body and coordinate the funeral rites. Announcements of the funeral are sent in the form of invitations. For most Chinese funerals, the invitations are white. If the person was age 80 or older, then the invitations are pink. Living until 80 or beyond is considered a feat worth celebrating and mourners should celebrate the person’s longevity rather than mourn.

The invitation includes information about the funeral’s date, time, and location, as well as a small obituary that includes information about the deceased that may include his or her birth date, date of death, age, family members that survived them and sometimes how the person died, The invitation may also include a family tree. A phone call or in-person invite may precede the paper invitation. Either way, an RSVP is expected . If a guest cannot attend the funeral, flowers and a white envelope with money should still be sent. What Should Guests Wear to a Chinese Funeral? Guests at a Chinese funeral wear somber colors like black. Bright and colorful clothing, especially red must be avoided as these colors are associated with happiness. White is acceptable and, if the deceased was 80 or above, white with pink or red is acceptable as the event is cause for celebration. The deceased person wears a white robe in which white envelopes with paper money are tucked inside. What Happens During a Chinese Funeral? First, there is often a wake that precedes the funeral. The wake can be held at the family’s home, a local temple (if the deceased was religious), or a funeral home. The wake may last several days.

Family members are expected to keep an overnight vigil for at least one night in which the person’s picture, flowers, and candles are placed on the body and the family sits in wait. During the wake, family and friends bring flowers, which are elaborate wreaths that include banners with couplets written on them, and white envelopes filled with cash. Traditional Chinese funeral flowers are white. Irises are a traditional Chinese funeral flower. The white envelopes are similar to red envelopes that are given at weddings. White is the color reserved for death in Chinese culture . The amount of money put in the envelope varies depending on the relationship to the deceased but must be in odd numbers. The money is meant to help the family pay for the funeral. If the deceased person was employed, his or her company is often expected to send a large flower wreath and sizeable monetary contribution. At the funeral, the family will burn joss paper to ensure their loved one has a safe journey to the netherworld. Fake paper money and miniature items like cars, houses, and televisions are burned. A eulogy may be given and, if the person was religious, prayers may also be said.

The family will distribute to guests red envelopes with a coin inside each one to ensure they return home safely. The family may also give guests a piece of candy that must be consumed that day and before going home. A handkerchief may also be given. The envelope with coin, sweet, and handkerchief should not be taken home. One final item, a piece of red thread, may be given. The red threads should be taken home and tied to the front doorknobs of the guests’ homes to keep evil spirits away. What Happens After the Funeral? After the funeral ceremony, a funeral procession to the cemetery or crematorium is held. A hired band resembling a marching band typically leads the procession. The band plays loud music to frighten spirits and ghosts. The family wears mourning clothes and walks behind the band and a hearse or sedan containing the coffin and adorned with a large portrait of the deceased hanging on the windshield follows behind. Friends and associates complete the procession. The size of the procession depends on the wealth of the deceased and his or her family. The sons and daughters wear black and white mourning clothes and walk in the front row of the procession. Daughters-in-law come next and also wear black and white clothes.

Grandsons and granddaughters wear blue mourning clothes. Professional mourners who are paid to wail and cry are often hired to fill up the procession. Depending on their personal preference, Chinese are either buried or cremated. At a minimum, families make an annual visit to the gravesite on the Qing Ming or Tomb Sweeping Festival . Mourners will wear a cloth band on their arms to show that they are in a period of mourning. If the deceased is a man, the band goes on the left sleeve. If the deceased is a woman, the band is pinned to the right sleeve. The mourning band is worn for the duration of the mourning period which can last 49 to 100 days. Mourners also wear somber clothes. Bright and colorful clothes are avoided during the mourning period.

Question: What colour is used in mourning in China
Answer: White